I re-read the Edward Everett Hale short story, spurred by the ravings of the loathsome Rev. Wright (the complete story is online here). A few thoughts:

  • I’m sure my parents, children of immigrants both, read it in school during the 30s and 40s. How many children of today’s immigrants read it in the schools in L.A. or Miami or New York or Chicago? Maybe they read “El hombre sin país” instead. Oh, but don’t worry — assimilation will turn out fine, just like last time.
  • When Nolan is told that Lincoln is the president, and that he is not from a notable family, he says “I have thought our danger was in keeping up those regular successions in the first families.” Amen to that.
  • Do they ever show the 1973 TV-movie version with Cliff Robertson?
  • I see that there’s a movie with the title coming out this year, but it’s not the Hale story but rather Kurt Vonnegut’s memoir.